Telesforas Kulakauskas (1907–1977)
This is the first overview of the work by Telesforas Kulakauskas, a major artist of Lithuanian graphic design. ‘Kulakauskas holds a place in the national cultural pantheon by virtue of the entirety of his work: masterfully illustrated and designed fiction and children’s books, posters, theatre sets and costumes, prints and cartoons,’ writes the author of the book Giedrė Jankevičiūtė. ‘Some of his works have long become symbols of Lithuanian culture: the front cover of the catalogue for the first exhibition by Ars, a group of modernist artists; illustrations for Antanas Vaičiulaitis’ novel Valentina; book covers for Matas Šalčius’ travel books; illustrations for children’s poetry by Kazys Binkis and for Justinas Marcinkevičius’ poem Grybų karas (War of Mushrooms); the masthead for the cultural weekly Literatūra ir menas. Everyone knows these works, even those who have never heard the artist’s name. The overview of Kulakauskas’ works is interesting in itself, but it also opens up space for broader considerations about graphic design and image-based culture. During the interwar period this culture was coming close to the Western standards of the time and had penetrated many areas of everyday life. In the Soviet period this culture manifested itself differently in public and in private spheres’.
Title: Telesforas Kulakauskas (1907–1977)
Compiler of the publication and author of texts: Giedrė Jankevičiūtė
Compilers of the catalogue of works: Viktorija Achramenkaitė, Giedrė Jankevičiūtė
Designer: Gedas Čiuželis
Publisher: Vilnius Graphic Art Centre
Year of publishing: 2016
Number of pages: 358
Print run: 400
ISBN: 978-9955-796-08-4
Book covers: hardback
Languages: Lithuanian, a summary in English
